Who Can Have A Visionary View Of God? Series

I’m sure you will have noticed that our preaching theme this year is Visionary View.

Today I want us to consider the question: Who can have a visionary view of God?

Jesus answers this question for us in His Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5:8, “God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.”

To put this verse in context listen to Matthew 5:1-10

One day as He saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around Him, and He began to teach them.

“God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for Him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth.

God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied.

God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.

God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.

God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

Who can have a visionary view of God?

Matthew 5:8, “God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.”

I want us to look at this verse in conjunction with one of the Psalms.

The psalms are the production of various God-inspired human authors.

Many of the Psalms are attributed to King David, in the “titles” 73 are ascribed to David.

(The Apostles Peter and John in Acts 4:25 also credit David as the author of the second psalm, which is one of the 48 that are anonymous. Acts 4:25, you spoke long ago by the Holy Spirit through our ancestor David, your servant, saying, ‘Why were the nations so angry? Why did they waste their time with futile plans?)

About two-thirds of the book of Psalms have been ascribed to David and I want us to look at one of David’s Psalms, Psalm 24.

Psalm 24:1-10

The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it.

The world and all its people belong to Him.

For He laid the earth’s foundation on the seas

and built it on the ocean depths.

Who may climb the mountain of the LORD?

Who may stand in His holy place?

Only those whose hands and hearts are pure,

who do not worship idols

and never tell lies.

They will receive the LORD’s blessing

and have a right relationship with God their saviour.

Such people may seek you

and worship in your presence, O God of Jacob. [Selah]

Open up, ancient gates!

Open up, ancient doors,

and let the King of glory enter.

Who is the King of glory?

The LORD, strong and mighty;

the LORD, invincible in battle.

Open up, ancient gates!

Open up, ancient doors,

and let the King of glory enter.

Who is the King of glory?

The LORD of Heaven’s Armies—

He is the King of glory. [Selah]

First by way of Introduction

Psalm 24 is often called “The Hill of the Lord” because the verses containing this expression form the very heart of this Psalm (v3-5).

The questions in verse 3 “Who may climb the mountain of the LORD? and Who may stand in His holy place?” are the equivalent of asking, “What is true religion?” The answer of the Psalmist is here in verse 4, “Only those whose hands and hearts are pure”.

True religion, or more accurately true faith, is more than just having clean hands! First and foremost, it requires a pure heart.

True faith is not based on works, deeds, or observances of specific ceremonies for outward appearance. If our hearts are pure, in the way that Jesus wants them to be then, then we will willingly serve Him in many ways as part of our true expressions of love for Him.

As I said earlier, our text is Matthew 5:8, “God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.”

“for they will see God” What a wonderful thought, humanity created in the image of God, having the ability to see a visionary view of God.

Friend, is that the deepest longing of your heart? Do you have the desire to see God?

To look upon His face, for some this is a deep longing; a longing that is as strong as physical hunger.

Since the fall, throughout the ages, man has cried out with Job, the words from Job 23:3 “If only I knew where to find God, I would go to His dwelling”.

The more a person learns of God through the study of His word the deeper this yearning should become.